Aye-Aye
These primates live in Madagascar and hang out in the trees of the rainforests. We have opposable thumbs, but they have opposable big toes! These are what they use to hang from those branches. Aye-ayes are thought to be bad luck and get killed for superstitious reasons. Habitat destruction only helped make them endangered. Luckily, they now get some legal protection from being hunted. What a relief!
Aye-Aye
Japanese Spider Crab
These huge crustaceans grow up to about 12 feet across when spread out. We are not surprised to hear that they are the biggest crab species on the planet. However, they had to keep themselves safe from predators too. They put sponges and other animals on their shells to camouflage themselves. They are thought to be a delicacy in Japan. It is illegal to fish for them in the spring since it is mating season for them. The Tennessee Aquarium says that “taka-ashi-gani,” their Japanese name, means “tall legs crab.”
Japanese Spider Crab
